Shadow,

What do you think of this?

House passed some Bills that are going to Clintoon that will allow computers to generate legally binding documents like mortgages and stuff. Even overseas con men can say we gave an "electronic signature". So any little loophole negating the necessity of biometric security will be bound in litigation as more Americans complain of estates wrongly being billed to them.

My take is simple: Smart card = Thumb scan = iris scan = implant = eternal hellfire and damnation.

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Full Story
i doubt that if we cannot trust the balloting computers, how can this
be safe or secure?

House Passes E-signature Legislation

By JIM ABRAMS

Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Businesses will soon be able to seal
multimillion-dollar mergers and consumers will be able to buy a
car, apply for a loan or close a mortgage with the tap of a
computer key _ no scrawling in ink. Legislation passed by the House
on Wednesday would give electronic signatures the same legal status
as a penned ``John Han@#%$'' on a paper document.
The bill ``will further move us from the paper age to the
digital age,'' smoothing the way for a change in the way people
have done business since the time of the ancient Egyptians, said
House Commerce Committee Chairman Tom Bliley, R-Va.
The bill, passed 426-4, was considered likely to get quick
Senate approval, and President Clinton said he looked forward to
signing it.
``It will encourage the information technology revolution that
has helped lower inflation, raise productivity and spur new
research and development,'' Clinton said in a written statement.
In addition to easing commerce for individuals, the legislation
would open the way for companies to supply their customers with
contracts, documents and information online rather than with paper
through the mail.
The bill would set national legal standards for e-commerce that
is expected to triple from $500 billion last year to some $1.6
trillion by 2003.
It will give consumers ``increased confidence that an online
transaction has the same legal standing as if we had traveled down
to the bank, stood in line for an hour and signed a bunch of
papers,'' said House Majority Leader ##### Armey, R-Texas.
The measure is the result of months of negotiations among the
House, Senate and the administration on how best to move business
transactions into the electronic age without sacrificing consumer
protections.
Commerce Department Secretary William Daley applauded the
legislation, saying it ``enables companies to harness modern
information technologies'' while ``ensuring that consumers in
cyberspace will have legal protections equivalent to those in the
offline world.''
The administration opposed earlier versions of the bill that
passed the House and Senate last year, saying they didn't
adequately protect consumers from fraud and abuse.
A particular concern was that businesses could convey legally
binding information on interest rate increases, new fees or recalls
to customers lacking the computer skills or technology to receive
it.
The compromise bill makes clear that consumers must agree to
electronic transactions and consent to receiving electronic
records. The company must verify that the customer has the hardware
and software to obtain its online documents.
Notices of termination, such as electricity cutoffs, health
insurance lapses or evictions, must still be in paper form.
Consumers Union spokesman David Butler said his consumer
advocacy organization believes the new version ``does an adequate
job of ensuring that consumers will be reasonably protected when
they sign a contract.''
A tip sheet on electronic signatures put out by Consumers Union
advised customers to be sure their hardware and software is
compatible with that of the business, to keep backup paper copies
of electronic documents, to close unused e-mail accounts and to
refrain from giving out e-mail addresses if the person doesn't want
to receive e-mail notices from a business.
Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., chairman of the Commerce Committee's
telecommunications panel, noted the concerns of some business
groups that the legislation, in the interest of consumer
protections, sets up too many bureaucratic hurdles to online
transactions. ``It literally goes overboard to make sure that when
people consent to be part of the electronic age that they really
consent,'' he said, adding that he thought the bill was ``a great
step forward.''
If signed by Clinton, the legislation would take effect Oct. 1.
As of March 1, 2001, companies could begin the electronic retention
of legal records such as mortgages and financial securities.
The four House members who voted against the bill were Reps.
Helen Chenoweth-Hage, R-Idaho; Ron Paul, R-Texas; Bob Stump,
R-Ariz., and Gene Taylor, D-Miss.
___=
The bill number is S. 761.
On the Net: House Commerce Committee:

www.house.gov/commerce/

http://com-notes.house.gov/cchear/hearings106.nsf/actionkey?OpenView&StartKey=Electronic+Signatures